Nebraska Celebrates Masters Classic with a Win

The eighth-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team conquered the competition at the 24th Masters Classic Sunday afternoon in the Bob Devaney Sports Center taking down Kentucky (195.200), Wisconsin-Stout (188.650) and Bridgeport (190.350) with a team score of 196.850. Three Huskers swept all four event titles and the all-around to mark the team’s 19th straight Masters Classic title. Nebraska improves their overall record to 9-1 on the year and are 3-1 against Big Ten opponents.

Jessie DeZiel took control of the meet right out of the gates posting an incredible 9.975 on vault to give her the second-highest individual vault score in Masters Classic History. DeZiel went on to tie for top honors on bars (9.90) en-route to the all-around crown with a score of 39.525.

Hollie Blanske and Emily Wong both took a share in the bar title with DeZiel earning a solid 9.90. Wong displayed improvement claiming the beam title hitting a notable 9.925 that ties her career-high score, while also notching another floor title with a 9.925 mark. This score puts her sixth on the top individual floor scores for the Masters Classic.

“I thought we had a good day today,” head coach Dan Kendig said. “We just have to keep working. We have been pretty consistent but I think we are better than what we did today, which is encouraging because that gets us going and wanting to get back into the gym to work.”

The Huskers started the afternoon on vault hitting a 49.200. DeZiel fueled Nebraska sticking a new career-high score of 9.975. Freshman Jennie Laeng made her debut on vault earning a key 9.875, while Ariel Martin tied her career-high mark of 9.875. Desire’ Stephens (9.825) and Blanske (9.675) rounded out the Husker lineup.

NU carried their momentum onto bars posting the third-highest bar score in Masters Classic history of 49.350. The trio of Blanske, DeZiel, and Wong all hit crucial 9.90 marks. Stephens (9.85) and Laeng (9.80) both hit important scores to boost the Huskers’ efforts.

Moving to beam Nebraska showed consistency claiming a team score of 49.125. Wong led the Huskers posting a career-high tie score of 9.925. Jamie Schleppenbach also secured a season-high tie mark of 9.85, while DeZiel (9.80), Amanda Lauer (9.775) and Laeng (9.75) tacked on vital scores.

Nebraska took to floor in the final rotation putting-up a 49.175 team score, paced by Wong’s 9.925. DeZiel (9.85) and Stephens (9.825) boosted the team’s score while Martin and Blanske chipped in two identical scores of 9.775.

The Huskers will hit the road next weekend for Corvallis, Oregon to face a pair of Pac-12 teams in No. 11 Oregon State and No. 22 Arizona State in a tri-meet on Saturday, March 1 at 8 p.m. CT (6 p.m. PT).

“We have a big meet next weekend going out to Oregon State to meet some good Pac-12 teams and we are excited about that competition.”